Cap for wiring pass-through hole

ABSTRACT

First and second cylindrical members are fitted into a wiring pass-through hole in a wall board and engaged with each other in accordance with a thickness of the wall board and first and second lid-like members are fitted into openings of the first and second cylindrical members, respectively so as to be able to be removed out of the first and second cylindrical members whereby these cylindrical members are closed. A small quantity of wiring cord or cords pass through small quantity wiring pass-through openings of the first and second lid-like members so as to arrange them in order. By removing the first and second lid-like members out of the first and second cylindrical members, a large quantity of wiring cords are allowed to pass through a large quantity wiring pass-through opening defined by the first and second cylindrical members so as to arrange them in order.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a cap suitably used for being fitted into awiring pass-through hole provided in a wall of a top board or side boardof a desk or the like for passing through the wiring pass-through holewiring cords drawn out of a floor surface or the like when the wiringcords should be connected to an electronic instrument such as a personalcomputer on an article of furniture such as a desk, a counter, a table,a panel or the like and more particularly to a cap for covering a wiringpass-through hole without any damage of an appearance even when thewiring cords don't pass through the hole.

BACKGROUND OF TECHNOLOGY

Conventionally, there are known various caps for wiring pass-throughhole adapted to cover the wiring pass-though hole provided in a wall ofa desk or the like and an example of the commercial available caps isillustrated in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5(B). The cap a comprises adiameter-reduced engagement cylindrical part b fitted into the wiringpass-through hole B previously provided in a top board A of the desk Dand a removal prevention peripheral edge cover part c for engaging theupper surface of the top board A. This cap a is attached to the topboard A by the diameter-reduced cylindrical part b and the peripheraledge cover part c thereof. As understood from FIG. 5(B), the removalprevention peripheral edge cover part c is provided with a partiallyopened wiring pass-through opening d and an outer peripheral surface ofthe diameter-reduced cylindrical part b is provided with a plural ofremoval prevention peripheral striped protrusions e.

The conventional cap a for wiring pass-through hole is just looselyfitted into the wiring pass-through hole b in the top board A andtherefore if this cap tries to be fitted into the wiring pass-throughhole b provided in a vertical wall such as the side board, then the capwill be possibly reluctantly removed out of the side board due tovibration or other outer force applied thereto.

There is disclosed in Patent Document 1 a cap for wiring pass-throughhole suitable for being used for the side board of the desk or the likein which the aforementioned disadvantage is avoided and the briefconstruction thereof is illustrated in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cap is provided with a duct f disposed along thebottom side of the top board of the desk D and both ends of the duct fare supported on both of the side boards g and k of the desk D whileboth ends of the duct f are faced to the wiring pass-through holes hprovided in the side boards so as to be faced to each other. Theframe-like cap i is inserted into the wiring pass-through hole h in oneof the side boards g until an attaching frame portion i fully enters oneof the ends of the duct f and then the frame-like cap i is fitted intothe other wiring pass-through hole h in the other side board k in thesame manner.

Since the caps having the construction of FIG. 6 are fitted into theduct f extending between the side boards g and k, they never fall out ofthe side boards g and k, but the wiring cord or cords have to passthrough the duct f, which causes the flexibility to be restrained andthe convenience for use to be deteriorated.

Patent Document 1: JU 7-24135

An object of the invention is to provide a cap for wiring pass-throughhole adapted to be easily used not only on a horizontal surface of a topboard or the like, but also on a vertical surface of a side board or thelike by avoiding the disadvantage of the conventional cap for wiringpass-through hole.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a cap for wiringpass-through hole comprising first and second cylindrical members to befitted onto an inner face of a wiring pass-through hole provided in awall board in a manner faced to each other and having engagement meansto engage the cylindrical members to each other so as to hold the wallboard between them in accordance with a thickness of the wall board;first and second lid-like members to be fitted onto the inner surface ofthe first and second cylindrical members so as to close thesecylindrical members; and removal prevention means to engage the lid-likemembers with the first and second cylindrical members so that the firstand second lid-like members are prevented from being removed out of thefirst and second cylindrical members in such a manner as to be able tobe released therefrom; the first and second lid-like members havingfirst and second small quantity wiring pass-through openings definedthereby, respectively and released from the prevention of removal out ofthe first and second cylindrical members so as to remove away therefromwhereby the first and second cylindrical members are exposed so as toform large quantity wiring pass-through openings.

In the invention, a spacer may be held between an outer flange of atleast one of the first and second cylindrical members and the wall boardwhereby the wall board can be more securely supported by the first andsecond cylindrical member.

In the cap of the invention, the engagement means to engage the firstand second cylindrical members with each other may be teeth-like meshingportions formed on the first and second cylindrical members in apredetermined pitch along an axial direction thereof so as to be facedto each other, respectively. The teeth-like meshing portions may beprovided along the entire periphery thereof in a continuous orperipherally spaced manner.

In the cap of the invention, the removal prevention means to prevent thefirst and second lid-like members from being removed out of thecorresponding cylindrical members in such a manner as be able to bereleased therefrom may comprise inner shoulder portions formed on thefirst and second cylindrical members and protrusion portions formed oncylindrical frames of the first and second lid-like members-so as to beremovably engaged with the inner shoulder portions, respectively. As thecylindrical frames of the first and second lid-like members areengagably inserted into the first and second cylindrical members, theprotrusion portions of the cylindrical members are engaged with thecorresponding inner shoulder portions of the first and secondcylindrical members whereby the first and second lid-like members areprevented from being removed out of the first and second cylindricalmembers.

In another form of the cap of the invention, the removal preventionmeans to prevent the first and second lid-like members from beingremoved out of the corresponding cylindrical members in such a manner asbe able to be released therefrom may comprise removal prevention axialpressurization portions formed on the first and second cylindricalmembers, respectively and removal prevention non-axial pressurizationportions formed on the first and second lid-like members so as to beresiliently forced against the removal prevention axial pressurizationportions of the first and second cylindrical members. As the removalprevention non-axial pressurization portions of the first and secondlid-like members are forced into the removal prevention axialpressurization portions of the first and second cylindrical members, thefirst and second lid-like members are prevented from being removed outof the first and second cylindrical members.

In further form of the cap of the invention, the removal preventionmeans to prevent the first and second lid-like members from beingremoved out of the corresponding cylindrical members in such a manner asbe able to be released therefrom may comprise inner shoulder portionsformed on the first and second cylindrical members and at least two pawlpieces formed on the first and second lid-like members and havingprotrusion formed at their leading ends. As the pawl pieces areresiliently meshed with the corresponding first and second cylindricalmembers so that the protrusions of the leading ends of the pawl piecesare engaged with the inner shoulder portions of the first and secondcylindrical members, the first and second lid-like members are preventedfrom being removed out of the first and second cylindrical members.

In this manner, since the first and second cylindrical members arefitted into the wiring pass-through hole in the wall board from bothsides thereof whereby the wall board is held in accordance with thethickness of the wall board and the first and second lid-like membersare engaged with the corresponding first and second cylindrical memberswhile they are prevented from being removed out thereof whereby thefirst and second cylindrical members are closed, the first and secondcylindrical members can be positively attached to the wall board inspite of the thickness of the wall board and therefore the cap is neverremoved out of the wall board even though it is attached to the verticalsurface such as the side board of the desk.

In addition thereto, since the first and second lid-like members closethe wiring pas-through hole, the appearance is never damaged andfurthermore, normally the wiring cord or cords can pass through thesmall quantity wiring pass-through opening in the first and secondlid-like members. In case of the increasing number of the wiring cords,the large inner peripheral face of the first and second cylindricalmembers are exposed so as to be more largely opened, by removing thefirst and second lid-like members out of the first and secondcylindrical members, the cylindrical members themselves may be used forlarge quantity wiring pass-through opening.

Furthermore, as the spacer is inserted between the wall board and atleast one of the cylindrical members, the cylindrical members can morepositively hold the wall board between them and as the engagement meansto engage the first and second cylindrical members to each othercomprises teeth-like meshing portions provided on the cylindricalmembers to be meshed with each other, the wall board can be positivelyheld between the first and second cylindrical members in accordance withthe thickness of the wall board.

The removal prevention means to prevent the first and second lid-likemembers from being unwillingly removed out of the first and secondcylindrical members comprises the removal prevention inner shoulderportions on the cylindrical members and the leading end protrusionportions on the cylindrical frames of the lid-like members whereby theprotrusion portions of the cylindrical members are engaged with theinner shoulder portions of the cylindrical members, comprises theremoval prevention axial pressurization portions on the cylindricalmembers and the removal prevention non-axial pressurization portions onthe lid-like members whereby the lid-like members are fitted into thecylindrical members so that these pressurization portions areresiliently engaged with each other so as to fully provide a frictionalresistance thereto, or comprises the inner shoulder portions on thecylindrical members and the pawl pieces on the lid-like members wherebywith the pawl pieces of the lid-like members resiliently and engagablyinserted into the cylindrical members so that the protrusion portions ofthe pawl pieces are engaged with the inner shoulder portions of thecylindrical members, the first and second lid-like members are morepositively prevented from being unwillingly removed out of the first andsecond cylindrical members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRWAINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a cap for wiring pass-through hole according to oneform of embodiment of the invention wherein FIG. 1A is a front view ofthe cap, FIG. 1B is a vertical cross sectional view of the cap in thestate where it is used and FIG. 1C is an enlarged vertical crosssectional view of a part of the cap shown in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a cap for wiringpass-through hole according to another form of embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 3 illustrates further form of a second lid-like member used for theinvention wherein FIG. 3A is a back view of the lid-like member and FIG.3B is a cross sectional view of the lid-like member taken along a lineB-B of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 illustrates a first cylindrical member used for the inventionwherein FIG. 4A is a side view of the cylindrical member and FIG. 4B isa cross sectional view thereof,

FIG. 5 illustrates a conventional cap for wiring pass-through holewherein FIG. 5A is a side view of the cap in the state where it is usedand FIG. 5B is a plan view thereof, and

FIG. 6 illustrates another conventional cap for wiring pass-through holein the state where it is used wherein. FIG. 6A is a front view of thecap with a portion broken away and FIG. 6B is an enlarged crosssectional view of a principal part thereof.

BEST MODE OF EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION

A cap for wiring pass-through hole according to one form of embodimentof the invention will be explained in details with reference to FIG. 1.

The cap for wiring pass-through hole comprises first and secondcylindrical members 1A and 1B to be fitted onto a wiring pass-throughhole H provided in a vertical wall board Y such as a side board of adesk from both sides thereof and engaged with each other in accordancewith a thickness W of the wall board Y, first and second lid-likemembers 2A and 2B having cylindrical frames 2 g and 2 h to be fittedinto the openings of the first and second cylindrical members 1A and 1B,respectively, engagement means 1C to engage the first and secondcylindrical members 1A and 1B to each other within the wiringpass-through hole H and removal prevention means 3 to prevent the firstand second lid-like members 2A and 2 b from being removed out of thefirst and second cylindrical members 1A and 1B, respectively in such amanner as to be able to be released from the first and secondcylindrical members 1A and 1B.

The first and second lid-like members 2A and 2B have small quantitywiring pass-through openings 2 a and 2 b, respectively and thereforethese lid-like members 2A and 2B close the major portions of theopenings of the first and second cylindrical members 1A and 1B in thestate where the lid-like members 2A and 2B are fitted into thecylindrical members 1A and 1B, but a small quantity of wiring cords canpass through the small quantity wiring pass-through openings 2 a and 2 bwhereby the wiring processing can be carried out.

With the first and second lid-like members 2A and 2B removed out of thefirst and second cylindrical members 1A and 1B, the entire crosssections of the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and secondcylindrical members 1A and 1B are opened so that the large quantitywiring pass-through opening 4 is formed, a large quantity of wiringcords pass through the large quantity pass-through opening 4 whereby thelarge quantity wiring processing can be carried out.

As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the first and second cylindrical members 1Aand 1B comprise outer flanges 1 a and 1 b engaging both faces of thewall board Y, respectively when they are fitted into the wiringpass-through hole H and cylindrical portions 1 c and 1 d to be insertedinto and engaged with the wiring pass-through hole H. As shown in FIGS.4A and 4B, there are provided a plural of striped protrusions 1 eadjacent to the outer flange 1 a on the outer surface of the cylindricalportion 1 c of the first cylindrical member 1A in a spaced manner. Thesestriped protrusions 1 e serves to prevent the first cylindrical member1A from unwillingly rotating within the wiring pass-through hole H.

In the illustrated form, the engagement means 1C comprises a plural ofsaw-teeth-like meshing or interlocking portions if protruding inwardlyfrom and formed on the free end of the cylindrical portion 1 c of thefirst cylindrical member 1A in a spaced manner in the peripheraldirection (see FIG. 4B) and a plural of saw-teeth-like meshing orinterlocking portions 1 g provided on the outer face of the cylindricalportion 1 d of the second cylindrical member 1B to be meshed with thesaw-teeth-like meshing portions 1 f. The meshing portions 1 g of thesecond cylindrical member 1B are formed in an elongated manner in theaxial direction and therefore even though the thickness of the wallboard Y has substantially large difference, the first and secondcylindrical members 1A and 1 b can maintain the meshing portions 1 f and1 g meshed with each other while they hold the wall board Y between themwhereby the wall board Y can be in the state of being held by the outerflanges 1 a and 1 b.

In case that the engagement means 1C is short of the strength with whichthe wall board is held between the first and second cylindrical members,a spacer 5 of appropriate thickness may be inserted between the wallboard Y and the outer flange 1 b as shown in FIG. 1B. The spacer 5serves to compensate the shortage of the holing strength.

In the illustrated form, the removal prevention means 3 comprises innershoulder portions 1 h and 1 i formed on the inside of the cylindricalportions 1 c and 1 d of the first and second cylindrical members 1A and1B and striped protrusion portions 2 c and 2 d of semicircular crosssection formed on the edges of the cylindrical frames 2 g and 2 h of thefirst and second lid-like members 2A and 2B. As the cylindrical frames 2g and 2 h are engagably inserted into the cylindrical portions 1 c and 1d of the first and second cylindrical members 1A and 1B, the protrusionportions 2 c and 2 d at the edges of the cylindrical frames 2 c and 2 dresiliently engage the inner shoulder portions 1 h and 1 i of thecylindrical portions 1 c and 1 d whereby the first and second lid-likemembers 2A and 2B are prevented from being unwillingly removed out ofthe first and second cylindrical members 1A and 1B.

The removal prevention means 3 in another form is shown in FIG. 2 andthis removal prevention means 3 comprises axial pressurization portions1 j and 1 k formed by the cylindrical portions 1 c and 1 d themselves ofthe first and second cylindrical members 1A and 1B, respectively andnon-axial pressurization portions 2 e and 2 f formed by the cylindricalframes 2 g and 2 h themselves of the first and second lid-like members2A and 2B, respectively. The non-axial pressurization portions 2 e and 2f (cylindrical frames 2 g and 2 h) of the first and second lid-likemembers 2A and 2B are forced into the axial pressurization portions 1 jand 1 k (cylindrical portions 1 c and 1 d) of the first and secondcylindrical members 1A and 1B and the first and second lid-like members2A and 2B are prevented from being unwillingly removed out of the firstand second cylindrical members 1A and 1B by frictional resistance basedon the resilient engagement of the pressurization portions because ofthe pressurization portions 2 e and 2 f forced into the pressurizationportions 1 j and 1 k.

The removal prevention means 3 in further form is shown in FIG. 3 andthe removal prevention means 3 of this form comprises at least two pawlpieces 2 i formed on the first and second lid-like members 2A and 2B andhaving protrusion 2 j formed at their leading ends. As the pawl pieces 2i are resiliently meshed with the not shown inner shoulder portionsformed on the first and second cylindrical members 1A and 1B,respectively in the same manner as those in the form of FIG. 1 so thatthe protrusions 2 j at their leading ends are engaged with the innershoulder portions of the first and second cylindrical members 1A and 1Bwhereby the first and second lid-like members 2A and 2B are preventedfrom being removed out of the first and second cylindrical members 1Aand 1B.

In this manner, since the first and second cylindrical members 1A and 1Bare fitted into the wiring pass-through hole H in the wall board Y fromboth sides thereof whereby they are held in accordance with thethickness W of the wall board Y and in addition thereto, the first andsecond lid-like members 2A and 2B are engaged with the correspondingfirst and second cylindrical members 1A and 1B while they are preventedfrom being removed out thereof so that the first and second cylindricalmembers 1A and 1B are closed, the first and second cylindrical members1A and 1B can be positively attached to the wall board Y in spite of thesize W of the thickness of the wall board Y and therefore the cap neverfalls away even though it is attached to the vertical surface such asthe side board of the desk.

Since the first and second lid-like members 2A and 2B close the wiringpass-through hole H in the wall board Y, the appearance is never damagedand furthermore, normally the wiring cord or cords can pass through thesmall quantity wiring pass-through openings 2 b in the first and secondlid-like members 2A and 2B. In case of the increasing number of thewiring cords, by removing the first and second lid-like members 2A and2B out of the first and second cylindrical members 1A and 1B, the largeinner peripheral surfaces of the first and second cylindrical members 1Aand 1B are exposed so as to be more largely opened, the cylindricalmembers themselves may be used for large quantity wiring pass-throughopening 4, which will be easily understood.

As the spacer 5 is inserted between the wall board Y and at least one ofthe cylindrical members 1A or 1B, the cylindrical members 1A and 1B canmore positively hold the wall board Y between them and thesaw-teeth-like meshing portions 1 f and 1 g, which are the engagementmeans 1C to engage the first and second cylindrical members 1A and 1B toeach other can positively hold the wall board Y between the first andsecond cylindrical members 1A and 1B in accordance with variousthicknesses W of the wall board Y.

By the inner shoulder portions 1 h and 1 i of the cylindrical members 1Aand 1B and the pawl portions 2 g and 2 h of the lid-like members, theaxial pressurization portions 1 j and 1 k of the cylindrical members 1Aand 1B and the non-axial pressurization portions 2 e and 2 f of thelid-like members 2A and 2B or the pawl pieces 2 j with the protrusions 2i of the lid-like members 2A and 2B and the inner shoulder portions ofthe cylindrical members 1A and 1B, which are the removal preventionmeans 3 to prevent the first and second lid-like members from beingunwillingly removed out of the first and second cylindrical members, thefirst and second lid-like members 2A and 2B are more positivelyprevented from being unwillingly removed out of the first and secondcylindrical members 1A and 1B.

POSSIBILITY OF UTILIZATION IN INDUSTRIES

According to the cap for wiring pass-through hole of the invention, thecap can be applied not only for a horizontal surface of a top board of adesk or the like, but also on a vertical surface of a side board or thelike and since the cap comprises the cylindrical members and thelid-like members and can be applied for large or small quantity ofwiring by attaching the kid-like members to the cylindrical members orby removing the lid-like members out of the cylindrical members with theresult that the possibility of utilization in industries can beimproved.

1. A cap for wiring pass-through hole comprising first and secondcylindrical members (1A) and (1B) to be fitted onto an inner face of awiring pass-through hole (H) provided in a wall board (Y) in a mannerfaced to each other and having engagement means (1C) to engage saidcylindrical members to each other so as to hold said wall board betweenthem in accordance with a thickness of the said wall board; first andsecond lid-like members (2A) and (2B) to be fitted onto inner surfacesof said first and second cylindrical members so as to close thesecylindrical members; and removal prevention means to engage said firstand second lid-like members with said first and second cylindricalmembers so that said first and second lid-like members are preventedfrom being removed out of said first and second cylindrical members insuch a manner as to be able to be released therefrom; said first andsecond lid-like members having first and second small quantity wiringpass-through openings defined thereby, respectively and released fromthe prevention of removal from said first and second cylindrical membersso as to be removed therefrom whereby said first and second cylindricalmembers are exposed so as to form a large quantity wiring pass-throughopening.
 2. A cap for wiring pass-through hole as set forth in claim 1,and wherein a spacer is held between an outer flange of at least one ofsaid first and second cylindrical members and said wall board.
 3. A capfor wiring pass-through hole as set forth in claim 1, and wherein saidengagement means comprises teeth-like meshing portions formed onsuperposed portions of said first and second cylindrical members in afaced manner so as to be meshed with each other.
 4. A cap for wiringpass-through hole as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said removalprevention means comprises inner shoulder portions formed on cylindricalportions of said first and second cylindrical members, respectively andcylindrical frames formed on said first and second lid-like members,respectively and having protrusion portions provided at their leadingedge so as to be removably engaged with said inner shoulder portions,respectively whereby said protrusion portions of said cylindrical framesare engaged with said inner shoulder portions of said first and secondcylindrical members so that said first and second lid-like members areprevented from being removed out of said first and second cylindricalmembers.
 5. A cap for wiring pass-through hole as set forth in claim 1,and wherein said removal prevention means comprises axial pressurizationportions formed on said first and second cylindrical members,respectively and non-axial pressurization portions formed on said firstand second lid-like members so as to be fitted into and resilientlyforced against said axial pressurization portions whereby said non-axialpressurization portions are fitted into and resiliently forced onto saidaxial pressurization portions of said first and second cylindricalmembers so that said first and second lid-like members are preventedfrom being removed out of said cylindrical members.
 6. A cap for wiringpass-through hole as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said removalprevention means comprises inner shoulder portions formed on said firstand second cylindrical members and at least two pawl pieces havingprotrusion portions formed at their leading ends to be engaged with saidinner shoulder portions whereby said pawl pieces are resilientlyinserted into said first and second cylindrical members and theirleading end protrusion portions of said pawl pieces are engaged withsaid inner shoulder portions so that said first and second lid-likemembers are prevented from being removed out of said first and secondcylinder members.